Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021 Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021

Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student

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Thank you, CUSD community

By Scott Siegel, Ed.D. Retiring Superintendent

When I began my career

with the Ceres Unified School District more than three decades ago, I did not envision

that my final year in education

would be spent navigating a global pandemic and its effects on learning. Neither could our students, families, and staff anticipate the extraordinary resilience and innovation that would be called for as they persevered through a year of distance and hybrid learning before, finally, students resumed full-time, in-person learning this spring. It was not easy. It was nowhere near ideal.

Yet I could not be more proud of the extraordinary efforts of all who have gone above and beyond to make the best of the most challenging circumstances current generations have yet to face.

As I reflect upon the entirety of the past 32 years, there are a few certainties I will carry into retirement. If you are a CUSD teacher, classified employee, administrator, or parent, I am certain that our students’ lives and futures are forever changed for the better as a result of your tireless efforts on their behalf and the positive influence you pour into them.

If you are a CUSD student, I am certain you have the strength and spirit to achieve all you imagined possible. It begins with education. Know that, no matter the struggles you may face, they are temporary and help is avail-able, so please reach out when needed. There are more people than you realize cheering you on.

I am certain that the next superinten-dent, Dr. Denise Wickham, will make

extraordinary strides in ensuring that Ceres Unified remains a district that is Committed To Excellence and Respon-sive to Every Student, and in which all students can excel and take pride in their school and accomplishments.

Lastly, I am certain that any con-tribution I have made to this district and to this community is dwarfed by what the district and community have given to me. Thank you for entrusting me with your students, for allowing me to have such a fulfilling career, and for surrounding me with fantastic colleagues and lifelong friends. I am certain, beyond a doubt, that the Ceres Unified School District will always hold a special place in my heart.

Honored to continue important workBy Denise Wickham, Ed.D.

Incoming Superintendent

One of the qualities that first drew me to the Ceres Unified School

District more than 16 years ago was the district’s reputation as a leader in public education. That leadership has yielded significant progress for stu-dents, from advancing instructional quality and effectively using educa-tional technology to support learning, to increasing college and career readi-ness. As the daughter of an immigrant dairyman, I know firsthand the value of an equitable, quality education, and am deeply honored and excited to help continue this important work.

As students re-enter school in the fall having missed a year of in-person instruction, our focus will be on ex-panding academic as well as social-

emotional supports to accelerate learning. For example, in addition to elementary intervention teachers already in place to support literacy, each school will gain an intervention teacher to provide supplemental math support and a paraprofessional to meet unique student needs. Compa-rable supports will be available at the secondary level.

In the coming school year, I also look forward to working with the

Board of Trustees as they set priorities for allocating funds toward facilities construction and modern-ization projects. Please stay tuned for exciting updates.

While there is no question that our work is cut out for us, I am wholly confident that no team of students, staff, families, and community is better equipped to meet the challenges ahead. Thank you for allowing me to be part of that team.

As I retire, I am certain that any contribution I have made to this district and to this community is dwarfed by what the district and community have given to me.

District will remain in capable hands

As students re-enter school in the fall having missed a year of in-person instruction, our focus

will be on expanding academic as well as social-emotional supports

to accelerate learning.

Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student

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It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child.

The same is true of teaching a child, and never more so than during the past year. CUSD staff truly came together as “A-teams” – the best of the best, adapting as needed to support students with creativity and resilience.

At the forefront were CUSD teachers who made the leap from in-person to distance learning in what seemed like the blink of an eye, and often while caring for their own children at home. Supporting this effort were CUSD instructional coaches and educational technology specialists, or edtechs, who provided training and best practices

for distance learning, effec-tive use of new technology, and adapting instructional materials for Zoom. When learning shifted to a hybrid model, coaches helped identify effective teaching strategies and collaborated on ways to keep expecta-tions high while supporting

all students’ academic and social-emotional needs.

The district Technology team’s ever-important role was amplified when learning became 100 percent digital. Having an established 1:1 device program gave CUSD an edge, as students already had school-issued devices and teachers were effectively using educational technology. As a result, the Technology

team could focus on support-ing staff working remotely and ensuring students had reliable Internet connec-tivity. Nearly 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots were checked out, a live parent tech help line was launched, and staff even made house calls when needed to troubleshoot connectivity issues. Live tech support calls increased by nearly 50 per-cent during this period and help desk support tickets increased by 35 percent.

The role of CUSD’s Child Nutrition team also took a major turn when campuses were required to close. Recognizing that hungry children have a harder time learning, these dedicated staff members refused to let a pandemic stand in the way of keeping students fed. From July-May, the Child Nutrition team served up more than 1.6 million nutritious meals including 462,161 break-fasts, 752,221 lunches, and 394,529 suppers! Even bus drivers lent a hand in distributing meals.

When state guidance allowed students to return

On the frontlines or behind the scenes,CUSD ‘A-teams’ step up for students

Clockwise from top left, CUSD instructional coaches show their love for all things learning; teacher Shannon Baca leads a lesson at La Rosa Elementary; Technology Specialist Paulo Navarro prepares to film a virtual awards ceremony for the STEAM Team Film Festival coordinated by district edtechs; Food Service Worker Marta Zapata serves up lunch to hungry high school students; custodian Solomon Sena cleans high-touch surfaces; and CUSD nurses assist the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency in administering COVID-19 vaccines.

From July-May, the Child Nutrition team served up more than 1.6 million nutritious meals!

Continued on page 4

Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021 Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021

Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student

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Administrators’ workout video inspires students When elementary students returned to an in-person hybrid learning schedule, P.E. and music were still taught virtually in order for instructional minutes to focus on core subjects. To encourage students to stay active on their P.E. and Music Zooms, CUSD Principals and Assistant Principals filmed an ‘80s-inspired workout video with an original soundtrack and choreography by CUSD teach-ers. Watch the FULL VIDEO or see the KCRA 3 NEWS STORY.

CUSD in the news

CUSD high schools rank among top 5 in area In its annual ranking, U.S.

News & World Report named three CUSD high schools among the top five in the

greater Modesto area! Of 47 schools, Whitmore Charter

ranked #1, Central Valley High School ranked #2, and Ceres High School came in at #5. The rankings reflect

CUSD’s work in areas includ-ing equity and college readiness.

VIEW THE FULL LIST.

to in-person learning, CUSD’s maintenance and custodial crews implemented enhanced cleaning protocols to help keep campuses open and safe. This included sanitizing high-touch surfaces every hour as well as distribut-ing a whopping 872 gallons of hand sanitizer, 111,550 children’s disposable masks, 214,900 adult masks, and 4,286 face shields for the 2020-2021 school year!

CUSD’s health team also had their work cut out for them. In

addition to the routine tummy aches and treatments that are part of a regular school year, they monitored possible COVID-19 symptoms, working with families of sick students and tracking and reporting positive cases. The dis-trict’s mental health professionals, too, played a key role in serving students’ increased needs.

These are just a few of the CUSD teams that went above and beyond. To every employee, thank you for your essential role in edu-cating students. CUSD is brighter and better because of you!

A-teams (continued from page 3)

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Ricardo Campero Performing Arts Center underway

If you’ve attended a band, choir, or drama performance at a CUSD school,

chances are the experience included hard metal seats, fluorescent lighting, and caf-eteria counters or basketball hoops in the peripheral view. That is set to change when the Ricardo Campero Performing Arts Center opens in early 2023.

The 5,000-square-foot “black box” the-ater will replace school cafeterias, gyms, outdoor amphitheaters, and other make-shift performance venues with a dedicated facility serving the district’s 20 elementary, junior high,and high schools. Unlike a traditional theater where terraced seating is fixed around an elevated stage, the black box is a more cost-effective and versatile option that offers a floor-level stage and 400 comfortable but retractable seats that can be configured in a variety of ways.

“Musical performances, drama perfor-mances, lectures, choir performances – almost anything that you’d want to do you can do there,” said project architect Gary Mallory of FF&J Architects.

Named for longtime CUSD music teacher Ricardo Campero, the venue will include overhead stage lighting, a dedicated light-ing and sound room, and an off-stage green room. READ THE MODESTO BEE STORY.

At a June 22 ceremony, CUSD Board members and administrators joined retired music teacher Ricardo (Ric) Campero (center) in breaking ground on a 5,000-square-foot black-box theater expected to open in January 2023.

CUSD MissionOur students will achieve mastery of academic standards in a safe and supportive environment.

We will provide a quality, balanced education that results in academic excellence, and career preparation with attitudes and skills necessary to produce self-directed, productive citizens.

Hazel HealthEven before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted day-to-day life, the Ceres

Unified School District had partnered with Hazel Health to increase stu-dent access to healthcare through video visits with healthcare professionals. That partnership became crucial when California schools suddenly shifted to distance learning and in-person doctor visits were in short supply. In the 2020-2021 school year, Hazel Health conducted 423 telehealth visits with CUSD students! We are pleased to continue this valuable partnership in the 2021-2022 school year to support learning through wellness.

Modern Urgent Care, CeresTeachers and school employees were among the

first groups eligible for limited COVID-19 vaccine supplies released in phases beginning earlier this year. CUSD partnered with Modern Urgent Care, Ceres to provide quick and convenient access for staff seeking vaccinations, as well as for students when children became eligible (with parent permis-sion). Modern Urgent Care administered hundreds of doses to CUSD employees and students, helping support safer in-person learning.

Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student

Partnerships support learning

Above, a Hazel Health provider conducts a telehealth visit to help support learning. Left, Modern Urgent Care, Ceres provided a convenient option for COVID-19 vaccines.Not pictured: The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency held COVID-19 vaccine clinics at CUSD schools, and will offer required childhood immunizations (DTaP, Polio, Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap) on August 9, 2021 from 1-4 p.m. at 2555 Lawrence Street, Ceres.

Focus on wellness took on new significance duringCOVID-19 pandemic

Central Valley High School seniors pick up Chromebooks for College.

Chromebooks for CollegeFor the third consecutive

year, CUSD offered free “Chromebooks for College” to graduating high school seniors. Members of the Classes of 2021 stopped by distri-bution events at Central Valley High School and Ceres High School to pick up a gently used device

they can use as they pursue post-secondary goals.

Ceres Unified is in its sixth year of being 1:1 with student devices, having issued a second generation of Chrome-books in 2018-2019.

Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021 Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021

Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student

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Leslie Tate

ConfidentialEmployee of the Year

Office Manager Ceres High School

Austin Pimentel

Classified Employeeof the Year

Technology Specialist Technology & Media Services

Alejandra Villa

Administrative Assistant

of the Year

Administrative Assistant Westport Elementary

Elizabeth Holtan

Grades 7-8

Music, Cesar Chavez Junior High

Celebrating ClassifiedEmployees of the Year

Bob Elms2nd Grade, La Rosa Elementary

CERES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

CUSD VisionAll students academically

prepared to achieve their full potential, supported by and

contributing to the community.

CUSD Superstars Shine!

Dr. Amy Peterman

Also CUSD Administrator of the Year

Deputy SuperintendentEducational Services

California Administrators

of the YearMeet ourTeachersof the Year

Antonio Garcia

Grades PreK-3

3rd Grade Lucas Dual Language Academy

Diana Brister

Grades 4-6

5th Grade Virginia Parks Elementary

Ken Moncrief

Grades 9-12

9th-12th Grades Central Valley High School

Edward Ismail

Grades 7-8

7th-8th Grades Blaker-Kinser Junior High

Two Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year call CUSD homeBoth move forward for state consideration

Grades PreK-3

Dr. Denise WickhamIncoming Superintendent

Board of Trustees Betty Davis, President

Valli Wigt, ClerkLourdes Perez

Faye LaneHugo Molina

Brian de la PorteMike Welsh

Cabinet Denise Wickham, Ed.D.

SuperintendentAmy Peterman, Ed.D.Deputy Superintendent Educational Services

Jay SimmondsAssistant Superintendent Student Support Services

Dan PangrazioAssistant Superintendent

Business ServicesDavid Viss, Ed.D.

Assistant Superintendent Personnel Services

Central Office Administrator of the Year

Professor of Education of the Year

Also Stanislaus County Employee Making a Difference Nominee

Ceres Unified School District Report to the Community 2020-2021

Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student

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CUSD Demographics2020-2021

22 School Campuses• 12 Elementary Schools (includes

2 English/Spanish dual-language*)• 2 K-8 Magnet/Charter Schools• 3 Junior High Schools• 2 Comprehensive High Schools• 1 Continuation/Alternative High

School• 1 Charter High School• 1 Adult Education Campus

14,667 Students• 7,901 Elementary• 6,766 Secondary

81.5% Free/Reduced Meals Program Eligibility

Student Ethnicity• 78.8% Hispanic/Latino• 12.2% White/Caucasian • 4.9% Asian• 1.6% African American• 2.5% Other

29.8% English Learners

Educational Services/Curriculum (209) 556-1520 Student Support Services (209) 556-1550 Student Services (209) 556-1533 Child Welfare & Attendance (209) 556-1540 Special Education (209) 556-1530 Preschool (209) 556-1545 ASES After School Program Office (209) 556-1548 Adult Education (209) 556-1557 Business Services (209) 556-1560 Child Nutrition Office (209) 556-1580 Transportation Office (209) 556-1595 Personnel Services (209) 556-1510

CUSD NUMBERS TO KNOW

www.ceres.k12.ca.us

School Principal Phone Elementary Schools Adkison Elementary School Stephanie Pimentel (209) 556-1600Caswell Elementary School* Alfonso Navarro (209) 556-1620Don Pedro Elementary School Tami Garcia (209) 556-1630Fowler Elementary School Arti Narayan (209) 556-1640Hidahl Elementary School Melissa Adams (209) 556-1650La Rosa Elementary School Lori Mariani (209) 556-1660Lucas Elementary Dual Language Academy* Dr. Israel Gonzalez (209) 556-1720Virginia Parks Elementary School Holly Gaylor (209) 556-1670Sinclear Elementary School Shane Hulin (209) 556-1680Sam Vaughn Elementary School Steve Merchant (209) 556-1690Westport Elementary School Mary Kelly (209) 556-1700Walter White Elementary School Reid Volk (209) 556-1710

K-8 Magnet/Charter SchoolsPatricia Kay Beaver Leadership Magnet Libby Callahan (209) 556-1730

Whitmore Charter School of Arts/Technology Dr. Sarah Olson (209) 556-1610

Junior High Schools Blaker-Kinser Junior High School Matt Hutsell (209) 556-1810Mae Hensley Junior High School Jesse Campbell (209) 556-1820Cesar Chavez Junior High School Casey Giovannoni (209) 556-1830

High Schools Central Valley High School Carol Lubinsky (209) 556-1900Ceres High School Rita Menezes (209) 556-1920Argus and Endeavor Continuation/Alternative Linda Stubbs (209) 556-1800Whitmore Charter High School Dr. Sarah Olson (209) 556-1617

The Report to the Community is a publication of CUSD Communications. To request printed copies, please email

Communications@ceres.k12.ca.us.